Alumni Spotlight – Christopher Best (’00, ’03)

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Christopher Best The May Alumni spotlight features one of many impressive Bulldog educators in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5 – 9). Christopher Best, originally from Kahoka, MO, is currently the principal of Kirksville High School in Kirksville, MO. On July 1, he will assume duties in a new role as the Kirksville School District’s Assistant superintendent. In his role, he finds joy in helping create opportunities and growth. Particularly as someone who directly experienced the social mobility provided by public education, he is happy to have the opportunity to make the same possible for others.

One of the ways that Christopher and other education alumni help provide this experience to current Truman students is through partnership with Truman’s Master of Arts in Education (MAE) program. Truman finds meaningful collaboration with schools that provide MAE students with hands-on experience in diverse rural and small-town settings in which they foster practical teaching skills, cultural competence and a deep understanding of the local educational landscape. In turn, our school partners benefit from the fresh perspectives, energy and instructional support that Truman students bring. This mutually supportive model strengthens the region’s education system and ensures Truman graduates are well-prepared to meet the needs of today’s classrooms and be leaders in their schools.

On the personal side, Christopher has aspirations of visiting all 30 Major League Stadiums. With eight to go, his goal is in reach! This goal mirrors one piece of advice he would give current students which is to use their time in college to get a variety of experiences and to get out of their comfort zone. So many great parts of college, according to Christopher, don’t fit within a “plan” but add experience and knowledge that will serve them in life.

Alumni Spotlight – Elizabeth Wiles (’06)

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Elizabeth Wiles Elizabeth Wiles (’06) fell in love with Truman when she attended the Joseph Baldwin Academy. Now she is an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice Studies and Director of Interdisciplinary Studies & Student Research at the University, where she works with students in a variety of ways. Wiles earned her undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Religion then her Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri School of Law.

Wiles chairs Truman’s pre-law programming and recently organized “Tru Crime Day,” which weaved together all the strands of her work across campus. It was an interdisciplinary day of events related to crime, law and justice and brought together alumni, current students, faculty and staff as well as high school and middle school students from across the state. She organized a book club which featured eight different student-led discussions with community members and alumni from around the country. “It was so fulfilling to see the sense of community and belonging that Bulldogs cultivate wherever we are,” said Wiles. The day concluded with a Holman Family Distinguished Speaker Series event featuring Anthony Ray Hinton, author of The Sun Does Shine.

Wiles was named one of Truman’s Educators of the Year for the 2023-2024 school year and was also awarded the William O’Donnell Lee Advising Award for the 2019-2020 school year. She continues to support students who are passionate about all facets of Truman’s rich, liberal arts and sciences curriculum. She said, “I fell in love with this place pretty much at first sight. I have always felt at home here. However, if you would’ve asked me back when I was in college where I would end up, I don’t think I would’ve guessed that I would have been so lucky to end up teaching here.”

Foundation Celebration Celebrates the Impact of Philanthropy

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On April 5, Truman’s annual Foundation Celebration will recognize the tremendous impact of the University Foundation and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the General John J. Pershing Scholarship. Additionally, two presidential awards will  be presented.

Mastercard  A philanthropic partner for Truman, Mastercard, will be presented with the Distinguished Corporation/Foundation Award. Mastercard encourages employees to engage with their community while building a purpose-driven workforce. In addition to the company’s variety of community engagement opportunities across the globe, employees in the U.S. have 40 hours/5 days each year for volunteering. Some Truman alumni at Mastercard have dedicated these hours to supporting student recruitment, school support and engagement, on-campus and remote speaking opportunities to classes and clubs as well as serving as mentors and judges for the annual Bulldog B.I.T.E. innovation pitch competition and serving on the various boards that support the University. Alumni working at Mastercard have also served as Bentele-Mallinckrodt scholars and as speakers on the topics of business and cybersecurity in the annual Tru-Biz Business Forums.

Ann Covington Ann Covington will be recognized with the President’s Leadership Award. Along with her late husband, Charles J. McClain, President emeritus of Truman, Covington has generously given her time, talent and treasure to the University. She is a member of all of Truman’s most prestigious giving societies: the John R. Kirk Society, the Joseph Baldwin Society and the President’s Circle. She also continues to support the Charles J. McClain Foundation Scholarship and the General John J. Pershing Scholarship. Recognized by the American Bar Association as one of the Women Trailblazers in the Law, Covington was the first woman to serve on the Missouri Court of Appeals, the first woman appointed to the Missouri Supreme Court and the first woman to be named chief justice.

Additionally, the event will feature student speakers and performers and gives donors to scholarships the opportunity to meet with the recipients of their scholarship.

Student Volunteers Provide Free Tax Assistance

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VITA

For more than 40 years, student volunteers have provided free tax filing through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The service is provided by Beta Alpha Psi, an international honor organization for financial information students and professionals and supervised by Truman graduate teaching research assistants and accounting faculty. Certified by the IRS, volunteers for VITA are often accounting majors. This activity is a great opportunity to put classroom learning into action while meeting a community need.

In the past five years, VITA has filed more than 1,600 returns for refunds totaling over $400,000. Those with a gross income of under $67,000 are eligible for the service. More information about making a VITA appointment is available here.

Alumni Spotlight – Greg Bellville (’07)

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Greg Bellville Greg Bellville, a 2007 Truman grad, is currently the Vice President of Mission at Make-A-Wish Iowa. The Make-A-Wish Foundation aims to grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. As Vice President, Bellville plays an important role in advancing the foundation’s goals and encouraging volunteerism. In addition to his service through Make-A-Wish, he has spent time volunteering to coach basketball and football, as well as an interscholastic mountain bike team. Bellville has served on several boards and committees, including the St. Catherine of Siena Parish Council, Central Iowa Trail Association and boards and committees for child abuse prevention.

Bellville studied psychology during his time at Truman, earning his Bachelor of Science. He also spent time involved with Dobson Radio. He received Truman’s Echo 25 in 2023, an award that recognizes 25 outstanding alumni under the age of 40.

Bellville and his family aim to visit all of Iowa’s State Parks and rank them in a database. They enjoy any activity that gets them outside: camping, mountain biking, hiking and snowboarding. He gets much of his motivation from his children. Bellville encourages current and future Bulldogs to never stop trying to improve themselves, and says that leaning into your strengths is a vital part of personal growth.

Alumni Spotlight – Vanessa Alexander (’16)

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Vanessa Alexander

Vanessa Alexander (’16), director of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, received the 2025 Distinguished Community Service Award for the Kirksville area from the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. State Celebration Commission. Alexander studied Sociology and Anthropology during her time at Truman, also serving as a Multicultural Affairs student intern and a participant in the Minority Ambassadors Program.

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. State Celebration Commission holds a statewide celebration annually to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy through community service projects. Alexander worked with local partners to coordinate several events for the Kirksville, ATSU and Truman community in celebration of Dr. King: a showing of the movie Till, a day of community service, a speaker honoring King’s legacy, and an art and essay contest for K-12 students. The festivities concluded with a community dinner that included discussion, a keynote interactive speech from Alexander, a musical performance of A Change Is Gonna Come by two Truman students, and an awards presentation for the winners of the art and essay contests.

Holman Family Distinguished Speaker Series Features Exonerated Death Row Inmate

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The Sun Does Shine

Anthony Ray Hinton will be speaking on campus on March 26 at 6 p.m. about his experiences being held on death row for 28 years for a crime he did not commit. Part of the Holman Family Distinguished Speaker Series, Hinton will be on campus on March 26 at 6 p.m. In conjunction with his visit, a variety of true-crime related activities are happening on campus throughout the day. A forensic science activity, a talk on serial killers by Sal Costa and a “Tru Crime” escape room will be featured. Most experiences are geared toward prospective students, but community members, current students and alumni are all invited. Prior to Hinton’s visit, there will also be a book club held to dig into his book, The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row. An Oprah’s Book Club Selection, The Sun Does Shine is available in print, e-reader and audiobook formats. Alumni are welcome to participate in this book club, with virtual and in-person discussion options available. There will be more information about groups and meeting times available soon.

Donations Support Student Research and Travel

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One thing that sets a Truman education apart is the opportunity for undergraduate research that creates high-impact experiences, significantly broadening students’ horizons. Alumna Calaneet Balas (’97) valued experiences like this during her time at Truman, emphasizing that attending and presenting at research conferences had a significant impact on her academic development. She established the Health and Exercise Sciences (HES) Experiential Fund to ensure that today’s students also have access to similar experiences in the hopes that it will positively shape their futures and better prepare them to make a difference in the world around them.

HES Experiential Fund Trip
Students travel to Washington DC thanks to donor provided funds

In October of 2024, the HES Experiential Fund was used to support a trip of Health Science and Public Health Education students to Washington D.C. led by Drs. Carol Cox and Rolena Stephenson (’01) to attend the Society for Public Health Education Advocacy Summit. The Summit provided a learning environment for all levels of knowledge and experience, and students learned advocacy skills from national experts to enhance their confidence. In addition to educational session participation, students presented their research projects and advocated on Capitol Hill, covering topics such as youth advocacy and the use of social media as a tool for health advocacy. Balas also hosted the group at a dinner where she shared her legislative advocacy experiences over her career.

Alumni Spotlight – Kirsten Bernthal Booth (’97)

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Kirsten_Bernthal-BoothKirsten Bernthal Booth has been head coach of Creighton University women’s volleyball team since 2002. She is a three-time National Coach of the Year and is responsible for turning Creighton’s program into one of the best volleyball teams in the United States. Bernthal Booth has an impressive 500 career wins at Creighton.

A 1997 communication graduate, Bernthal Booth had an impactful time at Truman. She was the 1993 MIAA Freshman of the Year, as well as the 1996 MIAA Most Valuable Player. She was also the first Truman player to earn all-conference honors in all four seasons. In addition to her achievements in Volleyball, earning her a spot in the Truman State University Hall of Fame in 2011, Bernthal Booth was also a part of the Student Senate, as well as being a Student Ambassador.

Bernthal Booth took Creighton University Volleyball to the 2024 NCAA tournament once again, making it to the Elite Eight. The team at Creighton has now been to 13 of the last 14 NCAA tournaments under Bernthal Booth’s leadership. The 2024 season was the most successful in Creighton Volleyball history with a 25-match win streak.

Alumni Spotlight – Mark Taggart (’95)

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Mark TaggartMark Taggart (’95) graduated from Truman State University with his degree in Business Administration. During his time here, Taggart was a member of Blue Key, Alpha Phi Sigma, Big Brother/Big Sisters and served as a Residence Life advisor. He is now the chief financial officer for Toyota Material Handling North America, president of Raymond Leasing, chairman of Toyota Industries Commercial Finance U.S., chairman of Toyota Industries Commercial Finance Canada and chairman of Toyota Industries Lease Mexico.

Taggart served as Truman’s next Bentele/Mallinckrodt Executive-in-Residence November 20-21. Made possible by a gift from Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, the endowment enables the Truman’s School of Business and Professional Studies to select one outstanding individual from business and industry each semester to spend two to three days on campus. The time they spend on campus includes a special emphasis on how the executive handles unique challenges in a “real world” setting. Taggart’s time on campus included discussions with students, both in and out of the classroom.